Tell Me About S&W's Model 41....

[nero45acp]

I'm 42 and despite recently (6 months ago) getting progressive lens Rx glasses for presbyopia and a slight astigmatism, I find that I can no longer shoot as well as I once did when it comes to 25yd slow-fire target shooting using iron sights. So I've started thinking about getting a S&W Model 41 .22LR and mounting a handgun scope on it for such shooting.

I liked to know what you'll think of the model 41. Specifically, how reliable is it? Is it ammo finicky? How difficult is it to field-strip and clean? Would you'll recommend one with a 5" barrel or the 7" model for my above stated purpose? How difficult is it to mount a handgun scope on a model 41? Finally, what handgun scope would you'll recommend ($200-$400 range) for the model 41? Thanks.



nero

 

[1 old 0311]

The 41 is the standard. I like the size of the 5. Some go with the 7. Can't go wrong either way.

Kevin

 

[Onmilo]

1. Extremely reliable and yes, they are capable of being safely fired with high velocity cartridges.
2. Not finicky but they will do their best if you take the time to shoot a number of different cartridges and fine the best one for accuracy, reliability, and low fouling in that order.
3.I have a 7" barrel assembly and a 5" heavy barrel assembly for my Model 41. I use the 7" with factory sights for target shooting and I have a 2.5 power Burris scope mounted on the 5" assembly for squirrel hunting.
The 7" provides excellent sighting platform with iron sights and balances better if you decide to use a larger, heavier scope.
The 5" heavy barrel assembly is actually heavier than the 7" assembly but makes a fairly compact package with a scope mounted.
Newer guns have scope mounting holes already in place and you don't need to remove the rear sight to use them.
There are several good mounting plates available in both .22 rimfire style and Weaver type centerfire ring mount systems.
Brownells or Midway are good places to look for a scope mounting system that may meet your needs.

For a scope I recommend any of the Leupold or Burris handgun scopes.
They are expensive, so is the Model 41, and both are worth every penny spent.

 

[rick_reno]

I've seen a lot of them in my 25 years of Bullseye shooting. Older ones were excellent - the two newer ones I've seen in the last 5 years weren't. One went back and forth to S&W 3 times to see if they could get it to work - the owner finally gave up and sold it. The other one we tinkered with at the range for a season - the kid that owned it sold it. Those two wouldn't feed reliably.

 

[Gadsden]

This is not quite on topic, but I sympathize with your vision troubles. I'm 45 and just went to bifocals. I am right handed, but my right eye is so bad that I aim with my left when pistol shooting. With open sight rifles, I sometimes have a problem with the front sight going fuzzy and have to look away for a moment, then refocus.

 

[S&W10mm]

S&W Model 41

I have two, one old one newer model. Both of mine are ammo finicky. But still TOP of the line in 22 Auto's!

Just buy 3-4 small boxes of HYPER and see witch one it likes. Thats what I did and Found they Like FEDERAL and now buy it in bulk.

S&W10mm

 

[Standing Wolf]

The model 41 occasionally needs a bit of tweaking fresh from the factory. If you encounter failures to feed and/or extract with a variety of ammunition, contact the good folks at http://www.gunsprings.com about a replacement recoil spring.

I've had excellent success with Ultra Dot sights: http://www.ultradotusa.com/ud_home.html on both model 41s and other pistols and revolvers. You can find less expensive, but I doubt you'll find better.

The model 41 is one of the easiest guns to disassemble, clean, and reassemble I've ever encountered.

Best of success to you, eh?

 

[LHB1]

The S&W M41 is a great target gun and extremely easy to scope. I recently bought a second 5.5" HB without rear sight for my gun and screwed a scope base/mount onto the barrel. Then installed a Leupold 2X EER pistol scope and voila. Shoots like a short rifle. On first range trip w/new scoped barrel, put 28 of 50 shots into 1 3/4" X ring at 25 yds firing with two hands, no rest.

To change barrels on M41 or clean gun, pull down trigger guard and remove barrel with sights attached. After cleaning, replace barrel and push trigger guard to UP position. Gun does NOT have to be re-zeroed; sights retain zero. Neither my current M41 (15 years old) nor an earlier model (1970'ish) gave any problems with feeding or being ammo finicky. BUT the new barrel required some slight adjusting by S&W shop (free) to fit properly on my older frame. S&W said some dimensions have been changed which can sometimes cause this problem. Other than that, no problems with either of my M41's.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

ps: Nero, I understand all to well the problem of astigmatism and aging eyes. My right eye can no longer be corrected to 20/20 and I don't want to risk current or long term problems with surgery if it can be avoided. My solution was to start shooting last year with both hands/left eye and my pistol scores have increased substantially since then.

 

[nero45acp]

Thank you'll very much for the helpful/informative replies. I currently have a HK USP Elite 9mm on layaway ($1K out the door) that I'll be picking up on 3/3/06, so it won't be until the beginning or middle of april before I can afford to put out more money on a firearm, but I'll pick up a model 41 at that time. (Though I still haven't decided whether to get the 5" or 7" version.) Before buying and mounting a scope on it, I'll take it to the range a few times to make sure it functions OK and to see what ammo it likes best.

Gadsden, LHB1 I too am right handed and have had to switch to using my left eye because the right eye is the one with the astigmatism, and even with the Rx glasses it isn't as good as the left one. Oh well, better to have to complain about the manifestations of aging, then never having the opportunity to....

Again, thanks to all for the help. I'll post in the future how it works out with the model 41.


nero

 

[Yukonstorm]

I have an old Model 41, about 25 yrs old. I also have both barrels. The gun is like a fine swiss watch. its nver been ammo sensative, fires any thing i put in the mag. Ive used virtually every tpe of 22lr ammo you can imagine. I dont recall any malfunctions ever. I change the recoil soring about once a year. The 5 in bar has a very old aimpoint on it, the 7 has orig iron sights. This is without a doubt the best gun ive ever owned. A little pricey, but well worth it

 

[LHB1]

Nero,
I have owned the long 7 3/8 barrel, midlength 5 1/2 heavy barrel, and even one of the early 4" barrels. Would not recommend the 4" barrel. Choosing between 5 1/2 vs 7 3/8 depends on personal taste. I found that my scores were slightly higher with 5 1/2 barrel. The 5 1/2 barrel has less sight wobble (with iron sights) which lets me squeeze of the shot smoother. The 7 3/8 barrel not only has more sight wobble due to longer sight radius but also tended to droop on me and drop shots down at 6:00 o'clock on target. From a rest however, the long barrel with scope shoots like a rifle and makes a great squirrel gun.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[JoeHatley]

I bought this one last week.




I've only had it to the range one time, so I really don't have any onfo to add, other than to say it's a very nice gun.

Fun factor is very high!!!

Joe

 

[nero45acp]

Nice pics Joe! Thanks for sharing them.




nero

 

[JMusic]

I've had both the 5.5 and the 7.375. The latter is what I own now set up with a scope. An extremely accurate pistol mine came with original box and parts list dated 1959. I use mine to varmit and squirrel hunt with. It shoots everything I stick in it. In my opinion it is the best 22 pistol made, and I've had alot of different semi-auto's.
Jim

 

[Onmilo]

Well since we are doing show and tell, here is mine with all the goodies.
I have since replaced the 'Famous Maker' dot optic with a fixed 2X power Burris scope.

 

[ravencon]

For me this is the gold standard in seriously accurate .22LR pistols.

I have an older specimen with both 5" & 7" barrels. I prefer the 5" with a red dot sight (Ultra Dot) mounted on it. Personally, I prefer this over a scope with magnification.

It field strips easily and is a thing of joy and beauty to handle.

Ammo sensitivity in .22s is common. So what? You'll figure out what it likes and what it doesn't like in short order. Feed it what it does like and you'll have a life time of pleasure with it.

Also, I'd go with a well maintained older specimen over a new one.